John Robert "Bob" Emory Jr.
March 19, 1946 ~ January 11, 2026
Born in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Butterfly TrailJohn Robert “Bob” Emory, Jr. born on March 19, 1946, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2026. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Gail A. Emory; his two daughters, Layla Emory and Brittany Herman; son-in-law, Travis Herman; grandchildren Haley Woody, Emory Herman, and Rhys Herman; sister, Barbara Freeman; brother-in-law Clyde; brother, Rick Emory and his wife Sandra; brother-in-law, Arthur Jackson Arrowood, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Robert Emory, Sr. and mother, Margaret Ray Emory.
Bob was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He served in Vietnam as a medic for the U.S. Army and later joined the Asheville Police Department. After years of service, he retired as a lieutenant. Bob was a commanding presence who worked hard, always remained professional, and upheld the standards of what an officer should be. He was an avid historian who took pleasure in enjoying a good cigar. He was a brilliant mind who loved chess, books, and music. He was soft spoken with a heart of gold and a unique sense of humor. After 53 years of living in North Asheville, Bob spent his final remaining years at Aston Park. Our family is eternally thankful to them for their care and compassion.
The family will be greeting friends at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. on Thursday, January 15, at 1:00 p.m., with a graveside service following at Green Hills Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.
Services
Visitation: January 15, 2026 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Burial: January 15, 2026 2:00 pm
Green Hills Cemetery
25 New Leicester Hwy.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-9831
I worked with Bob Emory at APD and consider him a friend and a professional Police officer. God Bless the men & Women at APD.
Lt,
I knew you then at APD in the 90’s through your retirement.
I know you now at Aston Park for the time you were there.
I saw your brilliant mind shine through many times. Our chats about APD always sparked your interest and you had so many memories that remained.
As I got to know Gail and the undying love you both had for each other, it was so obviously profound and will remain a special memory for me.
May you rest in peace Lt.
My respect for you always.
I first met Bob in 1953 at Aycock Elementary School in West Asheville and we hung together through our years at Hall Fletcher Junior High and Lee Edwards (class of 1964). We learned to play chess early on and he got to be really good at it. I don’t remember ever beating him.
He was a avid reader of history and could easily give you facts about long ago events in the course of conversation. Bob’s experiences in Vietnam as a combat medic never left him but he rarely discussed them. Later on, he studied strategies and odds for winning at poker. He was usually a winner in our regular poker nights. We started our attempt at golfing in the 1970s and had a lot of fun and laughs in spite of our high scores.
Bob became an admired and respected police officer and leader in his many roles at APD. He was also a faithful family man. We will remember and miss him.
One of the most professional police officers I had the honor of with. I spent many a shift with Bob and I am always thinking back to the good times we had on patrol and the friendship we developed over our many years at APD.